Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Zimpapers Reporter
THE rolling out of the National Development Strategy (NDS2) starting in January next year will propel the country’s development to a new, higher level, leading to the ultimate attainment of inclusive and sustainable growth in line with Vision 2030, a Cabinet minister has said.
Government is already seized with fine-tuning the final crafting of the NDS2 blueprint document, which will guide national development in the next five years, building from the strides achieved under NDS1 (2021-2025).
President Mnangagwa is expected to officially launch the successor blueprint any time before the end of the year.
Speaking in Gweru yesterday at the 2026 Strategic Planning Workshop for his portfolio, Industry and Commerce Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu, outlined key priorities, including increasing the manufacturing sector growth rate to at least 2.6 percent annually, raising its contribution to US$12 billion, and improving capacity utilisation to 60 percent by 2030.
The ongoing engagement marks a key milestone as the ministry charts its strategic direction for the next five years, in alignment with the NDS2 (2026-2030) and the forthcoming Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy II (ZNIDP II).
“The NDS2 will provide a strategic compass, and it explicitly calls for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, measured by Gross Domestic Product growth, investment levels, and formal employment,” said Minister Ndlovu.
This includes economic structural transformation, measured by the increase in manufacturing value-added products, increasing the share of manufactured exports, and export diversification, he added.
To achieve these goals, Minister Ndlovu said the ministry will focus on four core pillars, with a key emphasis on deepening industrial transformation and value addition.
“This is our mandate. We must move beyond rhetoric to tangible, measurable value addition across all sectors,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu highlighted two key initiatives, namely the agro-processing revolution and accelerating rural industrialisation towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
“Under the Agro-Processing Revolution, the ministry will develop integrated agro-processing hubs in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
“This aims to increase local processing of agricultural produce, such as soybeans and fruits, before export,” he said.
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By accelerating rural industrialization, the minister said, the Government seeks to promote industrial activities in all provinces based on local resources, creating equitable growth and employment opportunities.
“There is also a need for enhancing a friendly investment environment that is data-driven and reviewing existing and new business regulations.
“This workshop marks a critical step in fulfilling the ministry’s mandate to drive inclusive industrialisation, promote commercial development, and facilitate value addition across the country,” he said.
In his remarks, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, said the workshop provides a vital platform to review progress on the implementation of the ministry’s 2026 plan.
“This is a very important workshop as we march towards attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030. Vision 2030 is clearly achievable as evidenced through the country’s solid economic performance since the inception of the Second Republic under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa,” he said.
Minister Ncube said Midlands Province’s capacity utilization rose from 30 percent prior to 2017 to the current average of 52 percent.
“The Midlands Province acknowledges and appreciates impactful, bold, and strategic policy decisions by the New Dispensation to open the economy for tourism, trade and investment growth, implement the ease of doing business reforms and Devolution and Decentralization agenda, capitalize local industries and deal with business malpractices that include smuggling and counterfeit products,” he said.
Minister Ncube said his province was leading rural province development in terms of Gross Domestic Product for 2024 and would seek to do more going forward.
“We are committed to supporting initiatives that harness our comparative advantages, enhance competitiveness, attract investment and promote inclusivity in industry and commerce,” he said.
“We have signature programmes such as the flagship Dinson Iron and Steel Plant in Manhize earmarked to be one of the largest plants in the region and Africa now producing steel billets and deformed bars for the construction and SME sector, Zhe-Li
Lithium Processing Plant in Zvishavane and Chrome smelting plants that are benefiting the people through employment creation as well.”
